Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikalraja’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Fikalraja’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, early and freely flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIKALRAJA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fikalraja’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-flowering Kalanchoe plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2007 of a proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 0733-02 (06), not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 0731-01 (06), not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fikalraja’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fikalraja’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching plant habit.     -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Uniform, early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Red purple-colored flowers.     -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are shorter than and not as         vigorous as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller and glossier leaves         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower earlier than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are larger than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger leaves than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower earlier than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   5. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have orangish pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Opala’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,142. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Opala’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Opala’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Opala’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had smaller flowers than plants         of ‘Opala’.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flowered earlier than plants of         ‘Opala’.     -   5. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Opala’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Opala’ had lighter red purple-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fikalraja’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter in 10-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Kalanchoe production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 20° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 lux to 50,000 lux. Plants received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about three weeks then plants received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were 13 weeks old when the photograph was taken and 15 weeks old when the description was taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Fikalraja’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana identified as code number 0733-02 (06), not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana identified as code number 0731-01 (06), not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 20 days             at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 27 days             at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; greyish white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly mounded plant             habit; freely flowering habit with numerous cymes positioned             above the foliar plane; inverted triangle with rounded             crown; appropriate for 7.5 to 15.25-cm containers;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 17 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with usually about             five to seven lateral branches developing per plant;             pinching (removal of the terminal apex) is not required but             will enhance lateral branch development. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 12 cm to 17 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm to 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 137C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.         -   Quantity per plant.—About six to ten mature leaves and about             ten to 14 generative leaves.         -   Length.—About 9 cm.         -   Width.—About 8 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; succulent; glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to N137A; venation, close to N137A to N137B.             Developing and fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to             8 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; succulent. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to N137A to N137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single flowers arranged singly             in axillary cymes; uniform and freely flowering habit with             usually more than 25 open flowers and more than 25 flower             buds per lateral branch and more than 150 open flowers and             flower buds developing per plant; plants flower continuously             for at least six weeks.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe             initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night             conditions or during November and December in The             Netherlands; flower initiation and development can also be             induced under artificial short day/long conditions (at least             14 hours of darkness).         -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, under short day/long             night photoinductive conditions, plants begin flowering             about eight to ten weeks; actual time to flower is primarily             dependent upon temperature and light intensity.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about 51 days under interior conditions; individual             flowers last about 18 days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid with             development. Color: Close to 138B and becoming closer to 63C             with development.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length: About             7 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Aspect: Flat to somewhat downward.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to N66A. When opening,             lower surface: Close to N66D and 62D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to N66B; color becoming closer to 67B with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N66D and             62D.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About             9 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:             Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright, rigid.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Aspect:             Erect, rigid. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight             per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther length:             About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil             number: About four. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Style length:             About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 138D. Stigma shape: Flat.             Stigma color: Close to 8D. Ovary color: Close to 138D.         -   Seeds.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:             Close to 166C. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Kalanchoe plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikalraja’ as illustrated and described. 